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Is Streaming The New Direction In Video Games?

A recent article posted through IGN by Colin Stevens, outlined a new innovation in streaming technology. Google, along with Ubisoft, have partnered in order to push out the next Assassin’s Creed game via a streaming service through Google Chrome.

The service is being called “Google’s Project Stream” and it is suppose to have the technological wizardry to allow someone to play a giant game like Assassins Creed: Odyssey over the internet.

The requirement are simple:

You must be 17 years or older

You must have a computer with access to the internet

Your internet must be able to reach speeds of 25MBs per second…not that hard, which seems even more impressive that they can have the game run at such low speeds.

Spots are limited however, so it seems like it might be a lottery system.

In the video that was shown, they were able to travel all over Greece and perform Naval combat. Making it even more impressive is the fact that it seemed to be running at 1080p and 60fps, however, there was some input lag, which leads me to believe that this may not be ironed out. But, that’s what a trail run is for.

Personally, I’m on the fence when it comes to streaming games. I don’t know why I’m on the fence, but it’s just a gut feeling that I have. It helps for me to lay out my reasons in a verbal diarrhea like fashion in order for me to see if I just have a preconceived opinion, or if I still have a good gut feeling about most things. So…here we go.

Why am I not a fan?

I guess it stems from the idea that I don’t think the technology has advanced that much in such a short period of time.

My experience with streaming games comes from the streaming applications the Microsoft and Playstation have. As of right now, I can turn on my Xbox, and stream the feed to my computer so that I can play it in a different room and still watch TV or watch something with my wife. It does come in handy, and I do use this feature a lot, but it’s anything but perfect.

I should start off by saying that I have good internet. I pay for 150MBs and I have never had an issue with slow speeds or lags when it comes to watching Netflix or HBO. Plus I have never had any lags when playing an MMO or regular multiplayer, so I can assume that my speeds are up to snuff. However, when I want to play from my Xbox to my computer, it’s very hit and miss. I could play a game for awhile and not experience any dips in the process, but there are other times when I have to close everything because the lag is just unbearable. This is a first world problem. I am aware of that. My point is that I’m not sure if the tech is up for the demand. I really dont want to be burned by this.

I have a feeling that I will go head first into this and end up disappointed.

How Could I Become A Fan?

Well it is easy…make good on your promises.

If it really is doable and the technology is there, then prove it. I can see some amazing things come out of this.

First of all, they can offer games to people that may not have the money to stay up to date with the newest systems. This can allow more people to get involved in gaming and create more love for the industry. People that have never owned a console before, because of money or just lack of attention, could actually see what all the fuss is about, and who knows, maybe the next great designer will get inspired by a game that they otherwise would have missed.

Second, this could open the door for more partnerships between different studios. If we can stream a game from the internet, there will no longer be a need for Playstation or Xbox. We could simply play games from our smart TVs. As an Xbox fan boy, this is both terrific and terrifying. I would hate to see the era of consoles leave, and maybe they could stay and be available for those that want a more streamline experience, but I can only see this technology advancing in one way. Making consoles and desktops obsolete.

So what are your thoughts on the topic? Could you see yourself actually playing a game without a computer or console? Would you prefer this new tech or are you a die hard for our current state?